Safer Skies at All Levels: How New Federal Action Reshapes Counter-UAS Authority and Capability
In an article published by Homeland Security Today, Woods Rogers Principal C. Carter Lee provides an overview of the recently enacted SAFER SKIES Act and its complimentary connection with FEMA’s Counter-UAS Grant Program.
In this article, Carter discusses how after years of legislative inertia and mounting incidents involving drones, the SAFER SKIES Act broadens America’s ability to defend against drone attacks just in time for the FIFA World Cup and celebrations surrounding the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The Act empowers first line responders at the state and local level to detect, track, disrupt, seize, or—if necessary—neutralize unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) posing credible threats to public safety. Before, the ability to legally mitigate drone threats in this manner was largely confined to a small group of federal agencies.
Complimenting the SAFER SKIES Act is the FEMA Counter UAS Program. As Carter explains: “Funds awarded under the cUAS Grant Program, created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, may be used to help [state, local, tribal, and territorial] governments improve their ability to detect, identify, track, monitor, and mitigate unlawful or threatening UAS activity.” Through this grant program, FEMA issued its fastest, non-disaster award in history: $250 million to the 11 states hosting the global soccer tournaments and the National Capital Region (Washington D.C., Virginia, and Maryland).
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